James POV
We finally arrive home. Noah is late for class so he only has time to drop us off at the parking lot. Adam and I say goodbye and he drives off, leaving the two of us in silence.
Without saying a word, we both simultaneously head into the building. It only takes a moment before we are climbing into the elevator.
The tension is thick, and the elevator music isn't exactly helping. He's been avoiding me all day, and I have yet to talk to him. I cringe just thinking about bringing the events of last night up. Still, it has to be done.
Just as I open my mouth, the elevator dings. Little Adam practically flies down the hallway to the apartment. I stand behind him as he opens the door, watching as he plops himself down on the couch and pulls out his phone. I can tell he's on edge.
Daniel is standing in the kitchen when we enter. He looks from me to Adam and then back to me again. I can see what he's getting at and shake my head.
"I think I'm gonna go out for a jog. You guys just call me if you need anything!" He says, walking out the door leaving me to deal with my problems.
I stand there for a moment, contemplating my next moves.
"Adam, we've gotta talk."
His whole body tenses and he pulls his phone closer to his face.
"A-About what?" He squeaks.
"The other night." I say with a sigh.
"I'm not sure what you're talking about." He tells me, pulling his phone even closer as if it were a shield.
He's really gonna make this hard for me, isn't he?
"Adam, please look at me." I ask, stepping closer.
He reluctantly lowers his phone. A look of dread covers his face.
I offer him my hand and pull him to his feet. He takes a step back, staring at the floor.
He swallows. "So..."
"I'm sorry. I didn't... I thought... I'm sorry, Adam."
"N-No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have..." He trails off, pain clear in his face.
I take a step closer, lifting his chin up so he has to look at me.
"You have nothing to apologize for. I was just... tired from a day at work and did something stupid without thinking. That's all it was."
I let out a sigh of relief as a weight lifts off my chest. I glance back up at Adam, expecting his reaction to mirror mine.
He is focusing on the ground, his whole body shaking. Tears prick at his foggy eyes.
"O-Oh..." He chokes out. A sharp pain stabs through my chest.
OH NO OH NO OH NO DAMAGE CONTROL OH NO OH NO...
"I m-mean I MIGHT'VE been thinking w-were you thinking- w-wait noooo I didn't AUGHHHH!" I panic more and more as he tries to take another step away, only to realize he's against the wall.
"I-I'm sorry... I-I should..." He mumbles.
Deep in panic, I take his tiny face in my hand and turn his head towards mine. My heart wrenches as I see his expression, but I push through.
"Adam- we... I..." I swallow. "WOULD YOULIKETOGOONADATEORHANGOUTWITHUSSOMETIMEBUTLIKEROMANTICALLYANDIT'SPERFECTLYIFYOUSAYNOIJUSTREALLYNEEDTOKNOW."
I slowly ease open my eyes. Adam looks... Shocked? Amazed? Horrified? Flabbergasted? I can't tell. It seems as though he is frozen in time.
Finally, he breaks the silence.
"I-I..."
"... A-Are you messing with me?"
My heart drops.
"N-No- I wouldn't joke about this. I mean- it's fine if you don't w-want to..."
Adam POV
What is happening.
WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
I can't- he's gotta be messing with me, right? I mean, he doesn't seriously... They don't seriously...
...right?
My face heats up.
"You r-really mean it...?"
"I mean it."
I wrap my arms around him as tightly as I can, burying my face in his chest.
"...Adam?" He asks tentatively.
I love him. I love his hair and his snarky jokes and his annoying smirk. I love Noah's deep voice and Daniel's big arms that could crush me in a second. This must be a dream. This has to be too good to be true.
"...Yes."
...But a boy can dream, can't he?
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